Apparatus, System, and Method for Providing a Heart Rate Monitor with Antimicrobial Contacts

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine including a heart rate monitor with antimicrobial contacts. The exercise machine includes one or more hand grips and a plurality of heart rate contacts. The plurality of heart rate contacts are disposed on the one or more hand grips. Each of the plurality of heart rate contacts includes a contact surface and an electrical insulator. The contact surface includes an oligodynamic material. The electrical insulator is disposed between the contact surface and a hand grip body. The contact surface is electrically insulated from the hand grip body by the electrical insulator

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/311,844, entitled “Apparatus, System, and Method for Providing a Heart Rate Monitor with Antimicrobial Contacts,” which was filed on Mar. 22, 2016, and is hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of an exercise machine including a heart rate monitor with antimicrobial contacts are described. The exercise machine includes one or more hand grips and a plurality of heart rate contacts. The plurality of heart rate contacts are disposed on the one or more hand grips. Each of the plurality of heart rate contacts includes a contact surface and an electrical insulator. The contact surface includes an oligodynamic material. The electrical insulator is disposed between the contact surface and a hand grip body. The contact surface is electrically insulated from the hand grip body by the electrical insulator. Other embodiments of the exercise machine are also described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of an exercise machine with antimicrobial heart rate monitor contacts.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of an exercise machine with antimicrobial heart rate monitor contacts.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of an exercise machine with antimicrobial heart rate monitor contacts.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of an exercise machine with antimicrobial heart rate monitor contacts.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict a top view and a side cross sectional view, respectively, of a hand grip with an antimicrobial heart rate monitor contact.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram depicting one embodiment of a method for manufacturing an exercise machine.

Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures, and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and clarity.

While many embodiments are described herein, at least some of the described embodiments provide a method for providing heart rate contacts with antimicrobial surfaces in an exercise device.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of an exercise machine 100 with antimicrobial heart rate monitor contacts 102. The exercise machine 100 may be any type of exercise machine known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the exercise machine 100 is a treadmill, but any type of exercise machine may incorporate antimicrobial heart rate contacts and should be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

The heart rate contacts 102 are positioned on the exercise machine 100 in a location where they may be contacted by the hands or other body parts of a user operating the exercise machine 100. For example, the heart rate contacts 102 may be disposed on a handlebar 104 of the exercise machine 100.

In some embodiments, the heart rate contacts 102 generate an electrical signal responsive to a pulse of the user. The signal may be interpreted by a computer system to derive a heart rate of the user.

The heart rate contact 102 may generate a signal using any known method in the art for deriving a heart rate of a user. For example, the heart rate contacts 102 may be connected to a four-wire sensing circuit for deriving the heart rate of a user. In an alternative embodiment, the heart rate contacts 102 may use optical or other known methods for deriving a heart rate.

In certain embodiments, the heart rate contacts 102 use a material with antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial material may reduce the number of microbes present on the heart rate contacts 102. An example of an antimicrobial material is copper.

In one embodiment, the heart rate contacts 102 have an outer grip surface formed from an antimicrobial copper alloy, such as a cuprous nickel alloy containing approximately 80% copper and 18-20% nickel. Copper has been shown to kill more than 99.9% of bacteria within 2 hours of exposure, and has been shown to continue killing more than 99.9% even after repeated contamination. Testing has demonstrated copper's effectiveness against such viruses as staphylococcus aureus, enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MSRA).

In certain embodiments, the handlebar 204 is formed from steel and the heart rate contacts 102 are disposed on the handlebar 204. In certain embodiments, the heart rate contacts 102 are electrically isolated from the handlebar 204. In one embodiment, a dielectric material is disposed between the heart rate contacts 102 and the handlebar 104.

The heart rate contacts 102 may be connected to the handlebar 104 by any known process. For example, the heart rate contacts 102 may be connected to the handlebar 104 by one or more mechanical fasteners, by adhesive, by fastening a frame to the handlebar 104 that captures the heart rate contacts 102, by a combination of these components, or by any other method or component.

In some embodiments, the handlebar 104 includes one or more surfaces adjacent to the heart rate contacts 102 that may also come in contact with a user. In one embodiment, one or more surfaces adjacent to the heart rate contacts 102 are treated with an antimicrobial treatment. For example, the one or more surfaces adjacent to the heart rate contacts 102 may include a polymer, and the polymer may be treated using a known process to provide antimicrobial properties. One example is a durable antimicrobial liquid spray that dries to provide antimicrobial properties.

In certain embodiments, the heart rate contacts 102 are relatively small such that they are in contact with only a portion of a user's hand during use. The user's hand, in this embodiment, may contact portions of the exercise machine 100 other than the heart rate contacts 102 during normal use.

In an alternative embodiment, the heart rate contacts 102 may be relatively large such that the majority or all of the user's hand contact with the exercise machine 100 is on the heart rate contacts 102.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of an exercise machine 200 with antimicrobial heart rate monitor contacts 202. In the illustrated embodiment, the exercise machine 200 is an exercise cycle.

The heart rate contacts 202 are positioned on the exercise machine 200 in a location where they may be contacted by the hands or other body parts of a user operating the exercise machine 200. For example, the heart rate contacts 202 may be disposed on a handlebar 204 of the exercise machine 200.

In certain embodiments, the handlebar 204 may have multiple gripping positions. The handlebar 204 may include multiple heart rate contacts 202 such that a user may contact a heart rate contact 202 at each of the multiple gripping positions.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of an exercise machine 300 with antimicrobial heart rate monitor contacts 302. In the illustrated embodiment, the exercise machine 300 is an upper body ergometer.

In certain embodiments, the heart rate contacts 302 are disposed on a handle 304 of the exercise machine 300. The handle 304 may be any surface typically contacted by a hand of a user during use of the exercise machine 300.

In some embodiments, the heart rate contacts 302 include a surface treatment. The surface treatment may improve the antibacterial properties of the heart rate contacts. In some embodiments, the surface treatment improves the function of the exercise machine 300. For example, the heart rate contacts 302 may be polished to a relatively smooth state to improve the antibacterial properties of the heart rate contacts 302. In another example, the heart rate contacts 302 may include a surface texture to improve the grip of a user using the exercise machine 300.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of an exercise machine 400 with antimicrobial heart rate monitor contacts 402. In the illustrated embodiment, the exercise machine 400 is an elliptical machine.

In some embodiments, the heart rate contacts 402 are connected to a stationary surface. In other embodiments, the heart rate contacts 402 are connected to a surface that moves or is capable of moving as the exercise machine 400 is operated. In the illustrated embodiment, the heart rate contacts are connected to hand grips 404 that articulate in response to operation of the exercise machine 400.

The heart rate contacts 402, in certain embodiments, include a material that exhibits an oligodynamic effect. Materials that exhibit an oligodynamic effect may be referred to as “oligodynamic materials.” Examples of oligodynamic materials may include aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth, boron, copper, gold, mercury, nickel, silver, thallium, tin, and zinc. The heart rate contacts 402 may include an oligodynamic material alloyed with one or more non-oligodynamic materials. The heart rate contacts 402 may include an oligodynamic material alloyed with one or more other oligodynamic materials.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict a top view and a side cross sectional view, respectively, of a hand grip 500 with an antimicrobial heart rate monitor contact 502. The hand grip 500 includes a hand grip body 501, a heart rate contact 502, and an electrical insulator 504. The hand grip 500 provides a structure for a user to engage an exercise machine with his or her hand.

In some embodiments, the hand grip body 501 has an outer surface including an oligodynamic material. For example, the hand grip body 501 may include copper or a copper alloy. In another embodiment, the hand grip body 501 has an outer surface including a non-oligodynamic material. For example, the hand grip body 501 may include a polymer.

In certain embodiments, the heart rate contact 502 is disposed on the hand grip body 501. The heart rate contact 502 may incorporate one or more oligodynamic materials. In some embodiments, the heart rate contact 502 is electrically isolated from the hand grip body 501. In one embodiment, the heart rate contact 502 is separated from the hand grip body 501 by an insulator 504.

The heart rate contact 502, in some embodiments, is connected to one or more conductors 506. A conductor 506 may transmit an electrical signal between the heart rate contact 502 and a processor (not shown). The processor may interpret the electrical signal from a plurality of heart rate contacts to derive a heart rate of a user contacting the heart rate contacts.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram depicting one embodiment of a method 600 for manufacturing an exercise machine 100. The method 600 is in certain embodiments a method of use of the system and apparatus of FIGS. 1-5, and will be discussed with reference to those figures. Nevertheless, the method 600 may also be conducted independently thereof and is not intended to be limited specifically to the specific embodiments discussed above with respect to those figures.

As shown in FIG. 6, one or more hand grips 500 are provided 602 in certain embodiments. The hand grips 500 may be attached to a component of an exercise machine 100, such as a handlebar or a handle.

A plurality of heart rate contacts 502 are provided 604 in some embodiments. Each of the plurality of heart rate contacts 502 may include an oligodynamic material. In some embodiments, the oligodynamic material may include copper. In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of heart rate contacts 502 includes a copper-nickel alloy.

In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of heart rate contacts 502 are disposed 606 on the one or more hand grips 500. A heart rate contact 502 may be connected to a hand grip 500 using any known method. For example, the heart rate contact 502 may be connected using an adhesive or a fastener.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of heart rate contacts 502 is electrically isolated 608 from at least one other component of the hand grip 500 to which it is attached by an insulator 504. The insulator 504 may include any known dielectric material. The insulator may be held in place using any known method, such as an adhesive or a fastener.

Each of the plurality of heart rate contacts 502 may be connected 610 to a processor. The processor may be configured to derive a heart rate of a user in contact with at least two of the plurality of heart rate contacts 502. The plurality of heart rate contacts 502 may be connected 610 to the processor by one or more conductors 506. In one embodiment, the plurality of heart rate contacts 502 may be connected 610 to the processor using a four-wire sensing circuit.

The components described herein may include any materials capable of performing the functions described. Said materials may include, but are not limited to, steel, stainless steel, titanium, tool steel, aluminum, polymers, and composite materials. The materials may also include alloys of any of the above materials. The materials may undergo any known treatment process to enhance one or more characteristics, including but not limited to heat treatment, hardening, forging, annealing, and anodizing. Materials may be formed or adapted to act as any described components using any known process, including but not limited to casting, extruding, injection molding, machining, milling, forming, stamping, pressing, drawing, spinning, deposition, winding, molding, and compression molding.

Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by any claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A exercise machine comprising: one or more hand grips; and a plurality of heart rate contacts disposed on the one or more hand grips; wherein the each of the plurality of heart rate contacts comprises: a contact surface comprising an oligodynamic material; and an electrical insulator disposed between the contact surface and a hand grip body, the contact surface electrically insulated from the hand grip body by the electrical insulator.
 2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the oligodynamic material comprises copper.
 3. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the oligodynamic material comprises an alloy of copper and nickel.
 4. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises approximately 80% copper.
 5. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises between 18% and 20% nickel.
 6. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the exercise machine is a treadmill.
 7. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the exercise machine is a stationary exercise cycle.
 8. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the exercise machine is an elliptical machine.
 9. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a handlebar, wherein the one or more hand grips are disposed on the handlebar.
 10. The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein hand grips are disposed on the handlebar at a plurality of gripping positions for each hand of a user.
 11. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a processor connected to the contact surface by a conductor, the processor configured to derive a heart rate of a user contacting the contact surface.
 12. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a four-wire sensing circuit connecting the plurality of heart rate sensors to a processor.
 13. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising an antimicrobial surface treatment on the hand grip.
 14. The exercise machine of claim 13, wherein the antimicrobial surface treatment comprises a durable liquid spray.
 15. A exercise machine comprising: one or more hand grips comprising an antimicrobial surface treatment; and a plurality of heart rate contacts disposed on the one or more hand grips; wherein the each of the plurality of heart rate contacts comprises: a contact surface comprising an alloy of copper and nickel; and an electrical insulator disposed between the contact surface and a hand grip body, the contact surface electrically insulated from the hand grip body by the electrical insulator.
 16. The exercise machine of claim 15 wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises approximately 80% copper.
 17. The exercise machine of claim 15 wherein the alloy of copper and nickel comprises between 18% and 20% nickel.
 18. A method of manufacturing an exercise machine, the method comprising: providing one or more hand grips; disposing a plurality of heart rate contacts on the one or more hand grips, the heart rate contacts comprising an oligodynamic material; electrically isolating the plurality of heart rate contacts from the one or more hand grips; and connecting the heart rate contacts to a processor to derive a heart rate of a user. 